The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-09-29
The Scene at Lincoln's Nomination.

Ihe following is from The Centurys
Life of Lincoln: Though it was not
expected to be decisive, the very first
ballot foreshadowed accurately thetinal
result The complimentary candi-
dates received the tribute of admir-
alton from their respective States.
Vermont voted for Collamer, and New
Jersey for Dayton, each solid. Penn
sylvania's compliment to Cameron
was shorn of six votes. four of which
went at once for Lincoln. Ohio divid-
ed her compliment, 81 for Chase, 4
for Mclean, and at once gave Lincoln
her 8 remaining voJes. Missouri
voted solid for her candidate, Bates,
who also received a scattering tribute
from other delegations. But all these
compliments were of little avail to
their recipients, for far above each
lowered the aggregates of the leading
candidates: Seward, 1873; Lincoln,
l02
'sin the groun1-swelI of suppressed
excitement which pervaded the con-
vention there was no time to analyze
shis vote; nevertheless, delegates and
spectators felt the full force of its pre-
monition; to all who desired the defeat
of Seward it pointed out the winning
man with unerring certainty. An
otner little wrangle over some disputed
and protesting delegate made the au-
dience almost furious at the delay and
Call the rollp sounded from thou
sand threats.
"A second ballot was begun atlast,
and, Obeging a force as sure as the
law of gragitation, the former compli-
mentary votes came rushing to Lin
coin. The whole 10 votes of Collamer,
Al from Cameron, from Chase and
Mclean, were now cast for him, fol-
lowed by a scatter of additions along
the whole roll-call. In this ballot Lin
coin gained 79 votes, Seward only IL.
The faces of the New York delegation
whitened as the balloting progressed
and as the torrent of Lincoln's pOpu-
larity became a river. The result of
the second ballot was: Seward, 1849;
Lincoln, 1Sl; scattering, 994. When
the vote of Lincoln was announced,
there was a tremendous burst of ap-
plause, which the chairman prudently
but with difficulty controlled and silenc-
ed.
1.-The third ballot was begun amid
VI DtIl-
cils kept pace with the roll-call, and
nervously ly marked the changes on their
tally-sheets. The Lincoln figures
steadily swelled and grew. Votes
came to him from all the other candi-
dates,-43 from Seward, from Cam
eron, 13 from Bates, Is from Chase,
from Dayton, 8 from Mclean, l from
Clay. Lincoln had gained 504, Seward
had lost ~. Long before the official
teilers footed up their columns, spec
tators and delegates rapidly made tue
reckoning aud knew the result: Lin
coin, 2315; Seward, $50. Counting the
scattering votes, 465 ballots had been
cast, and 233 were necessary to a
choice; only II votes more were needed
to make nomination.
A profound stiffness suddenly fell
upon the wigwam; the men ceased to
talk and the ladies to flutter their
fans; one could distinctly hear the
scratching of pencils and the ticking
of telegraph instruments on the re-
porters tables. No announcement
had been made by the chair; changes
were in order, and it was only a ques-
ton of seconds who should speak first
While every one was leaning forward
in intense expectancy, Mr.. Cartier
sprang upon his chair and reported a
change of four Ohio votes from Chase
to Lincoln. There was a moments
pause,-a teller waved his tally-sheet
toward the skylight and shouted a
name,-and then the boom of a can
non on the roof of the wigwam an
nounced the nomination to the crowds
in the streets, where shouts and salutes
took up and spread the news. In
the Convention the Lincoln river now
became an inundation. Amid the
widest hurrahs, delegation after dele
cation changed its vote to the victor.
"a graceful custom prevails in
orderly American conventions, that
the chairman of the vanquished delega-
ton is first to greet the nominee with
short address of party fealty and
promise of party support. Mr.. Ev-
arts, the spokesman for New York,
essayed promptly to perform this
courteous. office, but was delayed a.
while by the enthusiasm and confusion.
The din at length subsidized, and the
presiding officer announced that on
the third ballot Abraham Lincoln, of
Illinois, received 364 votes, and is
selected as your candidate for Presi-
dent of the United States Then MI.
Evarts, in voice of uuconcealed
emotion. but with admirable dignity
and touching eloquence, speaking for
Seward and for New York, moved to
make the nomination unanimous"